Every year the South Plains Professional Photographers Association rewards a full scholarship to Texas School to one of our members.
If you are interested in in this please click on the following link and then please complete the application. The deadline for applicants is Monday November 28th.
REQUIREMENTS *Must be a member of SPPPA for at least 1 full year *Must be a member in good standing, (dues paid in full and have participated in at least 3 SPPPA events in 2011). *Must not have ever received the scholarship. *Application must accompany at least a 1/2 page essay on why you feel you deserve the scholarship. (please elaborate), and a short synopsis of your goals in the photography profession. *Scholarship value $495.00 (TPPA Members). Covers tuition only. You are responsible for travel and lodging.
The Texas School of Professional Photography will be April 29 - May 4th, 2012 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Dallas TX.
Please make sure you will be able to attend before submitting an application. The winner will be announced at the SPPPA Christmas party on Dec 4th.
The members of the South Plains Professional Photographer's Association (SPPPA) celebrated the end of summer (August) with a wedding at St Paul's Church on the Plains. The fall seminar brought together a florist, a baker, a decorator, a church lady and scores of brides and grooms to create a mix of instruction and hands on portfolio building experience. Guiding the whole process was Texas' own Mike and Suzy Fulton. Each brought their own lighting style to the day. Mike appreciated that he got to shoot with the one tree in Lubbock.
Mike Fulton guided one group through off-camera flash and lighting while Suzy Fulton focused on the fine art of posing and studio lighting. From the sanctuary to the garden to the reception hall, the thirty plus attendees were click happy.
Mike prefers radio poppers for high speed synch and shared that lighting up the nose is not flattering. However, one of his most popular tips was the light wand. The indoor reception set up included an elegant dinner table and then a cake table. Here, Mike used a popsicle or lightsaber-like light to illuminate details on the table. A huge kudos to Mike--he divided the groups into Canon and Nikon flash users to keep everything easy for the attendees.
Suzy shared some great tips for posing males. She talked about standing in an "unnaturally wide stance." When sitting, she has males make a fist with one hand and then grab it with this other. Having worked as a retoucher for years, Suzy is focused on the finer points of portraits. She demonstrated some of her favorite techniques including the dos and don't of liquify.
During the lunch break, the wedding vendors set up a second reception look outdoors in the courtyard. More romantic, this set up provided the attendees with more details to include in their portfolio.
We truly thank Mike and Suzy Fulton for their commitment to photography education. Due to their work, the fall seminar was a success both financially and practically. New members joined that day and others plan to come to the next meeting. A special thanks also needs to go to the board and guild members who volunteered their own clients as models, found dresses and suits and then coached the models. Everyone did an incredible job.
In July, the SPPPA members came together for an informal potluck and swap meet. Members brought frames, lenses, flashes and other tools to sell or trade. After the deals were made, the members settled in for an evening of cards, games and fellowship.
As I write this, I can't believe that June is already here and school will be out soon. I hope everyone has had a great spring and we look forward to an even better summer. We have some great events planned for you all in the coming months.
First, on June 20th we will be having our annual Print Competition. If you are unfamiliar with print competition, it is a great way to have put your work in front of some of the best photographers in the country. These skilled individuals have the experience and the knowledge to help you take your photography to the next level. No matter what level you find yourself at,print competition is a great way to continue to stay creative, energetic and passionate about photography.
In addition to the excitement and education that goes along with print competition, we will also be awarding our Print Competition winner as well as distinguished honors for the best prints in the following categories- Photographic Open, Illustrative, Commercial and Album entries.
Your entries cost only $25.00 per case (up to four prints) and prints entries are welcome June 13th-17th from 9am-5pm. The deadline for entries is 5:00pm, June 17th, 2011.
Below you will find some detailed information about print competition along with the rules, twelve elements of a merit print as well as this years entry form. On behalf of the SPPPA board. I want to encourage each of you to take advantage of this amazing opportunity.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact myself or another member. We look forward to seeing you and your stunning prints in a few weeks.
SPPPA Print Competition - June 20th, 2011
ELIGIBILITY
1. Entrant must have captured and created the original exposure. 2. Any entry that has been reproduced from an existing photograph, portrait, graphic or any other artwork produced by another person is a violation of the competition rules and will not be judged, accepted or displayed. If an entry, in the good faith opinion of the SPPPA, violates copyright, trademark or any other applicable law, that entry shall be disqualified. 3. The entrant's name must not be visible on the entry. 4. A maximum of four entries may be submitted per entrant. 5. Competition entry must be completed using the advance registration form online, but print cases may be hand delivered (subject to District Rules) if the online entry was completed. 6. No entry will be eligible if it has been made under the supervision of an instructor or as a class assignment. 7. No two entries may be of the same subject. 8. Entries previously merited at any PPA International Competition are not eligible, including any image from a merited album. 9. Entries bearing the PPA Affiliated Exhibition Seal of Approval and submitted according to the rules of entry by makers from within their assigned District will be automatically accepted for exhibition only when submitted to the next PPA International Photographic Competition immediately following the District competition where awarded. (Out of District entries are not eligible for the Seal of Approval.) 10. Entry media includes prints, physical albums
PHOTOGRAPHIC OPEN COMPETITION CATEGORIES
You must designate one of the below categories for each entry: 1. Portrait: Consists of Portrait, Wedding and Album entries. 2. Illustrative: Consists of scenics, pictorials, digital paintings and similar subject matter. Portraits and weddings are not appropriate for this category. 3. Commercial- Any image that was commissioned and has been or will be used for commercial purposesAwards will be given. The highest print case total will be awarded SPPPA Print Competition winner.
SUBMISSION OPTIONS
1. Entrants may submit printed images of any shape and size on a mount board a minimum of 80 square inches to a maximum of 480 square inches, with the largest dimension no longer than 24 inches. (Recommended mounting thickness is 1/8 to 3/8 inch.) 2. Print entries must be mounted on standard mount material (double weight mat board, gator board, 3/8 inch foam, or Sintra). mounting is accepted at the entrant's risk for damage. Images on metal and mounted to another standard material must have rounded corners and smooth edges. No mount that could potentially damage other entries or pose a danger to print handlers will be accepted. Masonite, glass, stretcher frames or conventional frames will not be accepted.
VIEWING CONDITONS FOR IMAGE REVIEW
Prints Tungsten lighting, 3100K, EV8 (ISO 100, f/16@ 1 sec.)
DEADLINES & FEES
1. Entry Fee is $25.00 per member and must be paid in advance. Entires and payment must be submitted no earlier than June 13th, 2011 and no later than June 17th at 5:00 PM
The Twelve Elements of a Merit Print
Impact is the sense one gets upon viewing an image for the first time. Compelling images evoke laughter, sadness, anger, pride, wonder or another intense emotion. There can be impact in any of these twelve elements.
Technical excellence is the print quality of the image itself as it is presented for viewing. Retouching, manipulation, sharpness, exposure, printing, mounting, and correct color are some items that speak to the qualities of the physical print.
Creativity is the original, fresh, and external expression of the imagination of the maker by using the medium to convey an idea, message or thought.
Style is defined in a number of ways as it applies to a creative image. It might be defined by a specific genre or simply be recognizable as the characteristics of how a specific artist applies light to a subject. It can impact an image in a positive manner when the subject matter and the style are appropriate for each other, or it can have a negative effect when they are at odds.
Composition is important to the design of an image, bringing all of the visual elements together in concert to express the purpose of the image. Proper composition holds the viewer in the image and prompts the viewer to look where the creator intends. Effective composition can be pleasing or disturbing, depending on the intent of the image maker.
Presentation affects an image by giving it a finished look. The mats and borders used, either physical or digital, should support and enhance the image, not distract from it.
Color Balance supplies harmony to an image. An image in which the tones work together, effectively supporting the image, can enhance its emotional appeal. Color balance is not always harmonious and can be used to evoke diverse feelings for effect.
Center of Interest is the point or points on the image where the maker wants the viewer to stop as they view the image. There can be primary and secondary centers of interest. Occasionally there will be no specific center of interest, when the entire scene collectively serves as the center of interest.
Lighting%u2014the use and control of light%u2014refers to how dimension, shape and roundness are defined in an image. Whether the light applied to an image is manmade or natural, proper use of it should enhance an image.
Subject Matter should always be appropriate to the story being told in an image.
Technique is the approach used to create the image. Printing, lighting, posing, capture, presentation media, and more are part of the technique applied to an image.
Story Telling refers to the image's ability to evoke imagination. One beautiful thing about art is that each viewer might collect his own message or read her own story in an image.
